Last season, Penn State defensive end Deion Barnes took the Big Ten by surprise, recording six sacks and 10 tackles for loss and forcing three fumbles on his way to being named freshman of the year in the conference.

This year, he was the only one of the team’s defensive linemen to appear on preseason watch lists for the Bednarik and Nagurski awards.

Through six games, though, Barnes has been an afterthought as his older teammates on the line from him have cleaned up on the competition. DaQuan Jones and C.J. Olaniyan have 15 tackles for loss between them, and Jones leads the Big Ten with 81/2.

Two weeks ago against Michigan (Penn State had a bye last week), Barnes did not even start the game; another third-year sophomore, Anthony Zettel, did, and he had an interception in the Nittany Lions’ four-overtime win.

“I think we have a competitive team at that (line) position. We have a lot of guys who can play for us,” Penn State coach Bill O’Brien said this week. “I think at the end of the day, everything that you earn, you earn it on the practice field.

“And again, I’ve said this a bunch of times this year: I think Deion is playing fine. I think there are other guys who are playing well, too. One of the things that we do a good job of, I believe, on defense is we rotate guys in on the defensive line. When you’re playing these spread teams, these teams that throw the ball and run the read-option, and you’re asking your guys to give great effort, especially the big guys up front, it’s important to rest guys and get a lot of guys involved.”

Penn State’s depth on defense could weigh in its ability to contain Ohio State and its explosive offense tonight. The Nittany Lions will be bolstered not only by the extras in their line but by the recent return of linebacker Mike Hull from a knee injury. He played for the first time in a month against Michigan and had 10 tackles, including two for loss in forcing the Wolverines to punt on their final possession of the fourth quarter.

Michigan averaged 2.8 yards per rush.

“Mike Hull is a guy who everybody on the team respects, and a guy who, when he talks, everybody will listen,” fellow linebacker Glenn Carson said. “Having him back and healthy is a tremendous help to this team. It creates more depth at the linebacker position.”

Converted safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, who started for Hull while he was out, said the front four has had a “monumental impact” on the defense this season and that it needs to be as dominant against Ohio State as it was against Michigan.

“Their offensive linemen are monsters,” Obeng-Agyapong said of the Buckeyes. “They like to be physical at the point of attack. Carlos Hyde is a big, physical running back, and athletic. That definitely poses a challenge to our defense — that I feel we’re up to.”